Repeat mechanism for cash registers and accounting machines



June 21, 1960 F. R. WERNER Erlu. 2,

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING mcamas Filed Nov. 21,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER LOUIS, E. ZURBUCHENTHEIR ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 i F. R. WERNER ETAL 2,

fly REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES FiledNov. 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I09 FIG. 2 o

I80 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER LOUIS E. ZURBUCHEN THEIR TTORNEY$ June 21,1960 F. R,-WERNER ETAL 2,941,714

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed-Nov.21. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER LOUIS 5., ZURBUCHENZZKM TH'EIR ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960 F. R. WERNER ETAL 2,

REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES led Nov. 21,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG, 8 I72 I68 263 432 P13 I72 I 333 332 1%: T Q|a0 l8 5 loo- I00 FIG 3 37' m 3 3 301i u FIG 9 302 30| 303 304 366 104 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5% .05 ("D Q) I I C C C INVENTORS @3333? 3:23am 2 9 I08fi3 II3 THEI ATTORNEYS United States Patent O REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CASHREGISTERS AND ACCOUNTING MACHINES Frank R. Werner, Dayton, and Louis E.Zurbuchen, West Carrollton, Ohio, assignors to The National CashRegister Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 21,1955, Ser. No. 548,165

11 Claims. (Cl. 235-'6) This invention relates to cash registers andaccounting machines and more particularly to a repeat mechanism for suchmachines.

One object of this invention is to provide a compact and etiicient cashregister of economical construction and small overall dimensions, havingmany of the appointments and features of larger and more costlymachines.

Another object is the provision of a machine with means whereby an entrymay be repeated without foreknowledge on the part of the operator thatsuch entry is to be repeated.

Another object is to provide a novel repeat mechanism by means of whichan amount-entered in the machine in an immediately preceding operationmay be repeated without rendering the repeat mechanism effective beforethe original entry of the amount, thereby permitting the operator torepeat the amount as many times as required in succeeding machineoperations.

Still another object is to provide a novel mechanism for rendering therepeat mechanism ineffective upon depression of an amount key.

A further object is to provide a novel mechanism for releasing therepeat mechanism upon depression of certain ones of the control keys.

Still a further object is to provide a novel mechanism to preventrelease of the repeat mechanism when the immediately preceding operationhas been a total-taking operation.

An additional object is to provide a repeat mechanism which does notrequire a separate and distinct control key for use in initiatingmachine operation.

With these and incidental objects in View, the inven tion includescertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, apreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation taken just to the right of one of theamount banks, showing said bank and the differential mechanismassociated therewith for transmitting the data set up on the keys to theprinting mechanism and to the indicating mechanism.

' Fig. 2 is a right side elevation taken just to the right of the rowtwo transaction key bank, showing said bank and part of the couplingpinion operating and control mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the coupling pinion supporting means.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a portion of the disabling means for therepeat mechanism and also showing the mechanism for resetting thedisabling means.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the control means actuated by the transactionkeys for controlling the repeat mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of means actuated by the Paid Out transactionkey for controlling the repeat mechanism.

s- 7 is a il i of the t l qntrol le nd ice means associated therewithfor controlling the repeat mechanism.

' Fig. 8 is a side-spacing view of the shifting pinion line and thecontrol cams associated therewith.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the keyboard of the machine embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the zero stop bar mechanism forthe amount banks.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side-spacing view of the repeat disabling andresetting line.

The machine chosen to illustrate the present invention has many basicprinciples and features which are similar in many respects to those of awell-known type of cash register which is fully disclosed in thefollowing U.S. patents: No.1,816,263, issued July 28, 1931; No.1,929,652, issued October 10, 1933; No. 2,048,200, issued July 21, 1936;and No. 2,056,485, issued October 6, 1936, all to William H. Robertson.

Reference may be had to the above-listed patents for a history of thedevelopment of the pioneer machines of this type and for a completedisclosure of mechanism used in the present machine which is similar tothe corresponding mechanism of the pioneer of basic machines, and whichfor that reason will be described only in general terms in the presentapplication.

Likewise, the machine embodying the present invention is practicallyidentical in its appearance and in many of its structural details to themachine disclosed in the copending applications for Letters Patent ofthe United States, Serial No. 341,633, filed March 11, 1953, now PatentNo. 2,880,930, by Frank R. Werner, Kenneth C. Flint, and Walter C.Sterzer; and Serial No. 412,464, filed February 25, 1954, by Frank R.Werner and Kenneth C. Flint, to which applications reference may be hadfor a full disclosure of similar mechanism illustrated in the presentapplication, and which will be described only in general terms unless itis pertinent to the present invention.

Mechanism pertinent to the present invention will be fully described inthe ensuing pages.

MACHINE IN GENERAL The mechanism of the machine is supported by rightand left side frames and 101 (Figs. 1, 8, and 11) and by correspondingauxiliary frames, not shown, secured to the upper ends of said right andleft frames, which latter are in turn secured at their lower ends to amachine base plate 102 (Fig. 1). The base plate '102 rests in and issecured to a shallow pan (not shown) in turn secured to the top surfaceof a drawer cabinet (not shown), which has therein a cash drawer (notshown), which opens automatically at the end of certain machineoperations, and which may be opened manually by authorized personshaving a key to the right hand closure of the machine case or cabinet(not shown). The cabinet encloses the mechanism of the machine, isconstructed of suitable material, such as sheet metal, and is secured tothe machine base plate 102 near its perimeter by suitable screws, whichengage threaded holes in said machine base plate 102. The side frames100 and 101 are maintained in proper side-spaced relationship to eachother by the base plate 102, by a back plate 119 secured between saidside frames, and by various cross bars, plates, rods, and shafts.struction of the machine framework are not shown here, but are fullydisclosed in the previously mentioned applications Serial No. 341,633,now Patent No. 2,880,930, and Serial No. 412,464.

The cabinet has a large opening in the front thereof to provide properclearance for the keyboard and special counter mechanism-s. The keyboardof the present machine comprises five rows or denominational orders ofThe details of con amount keys 103 (Fig. 9), a row of number onetransaction or control keys .104 to 108 inclusive, a row of number twotransaction or control keys 10-9' to 113 inclusive, a row of Clerks keys114, and a release key 115, for releasing any depressed keys prior tooperation. of the machine. The keyboard of the machine also includes atotal control lever 116, often referred to as a Unit Lock Lever, whichis movable to various positions to control the various functions of themachine, said positions 1ncluding Adding or Register positions, LockedReglstcr position, and number one and number two Reading Resettingpositions. The total control lever 116 (F gs. and 9) has incorporatedtherein a lock 117, which 1s provided with two keys, one of whichpermits said lever to be locked in either Register or Locked Registerposition, so that said lever may not be moved out of these positions byunauthorized persons not in possession of said key.

The total control lever 116 is normally locked against movement intoeither number one or number two reset position, and a special reset keyis provided for the lock 117, for unlocking the lever so that it may bemoved to either of the Reset positions. It is therefore impossible forpersons not in possession of a reset key to move the total control leverto either of its Reset positions to clear the amount from any of thetotalizers which are controlled by said lever 116.

Each of the rows of amount keys 103 has associated therewith acorresponding amount differential mechanism, which causes the amount setup on said key to be entered in the selected totalizer, and in turnpositions the corresponding front and back indicators 118 (Fig. 1), onlythe front indicators being shown here. Likewise, the control keys 104 to113 inclusive have associated therewith 'corresponding transactiondifferential mechanisms for positioning corresponding front and backtransaction indicators (not shown) according to the depressed controlkey, for the purpose of visibly indicating the type of transaction beingperformed. The front and back indicators are visible throughcorresponding openings in the case.

In addition to positioning the indicators, the amount differentialmechanisms and the transaction differential mechanisms positioncorresponding type wheels for printing values corresponding to thedepressed amount keys and for printing symbols corresponding to theeffective control keys upon a detail audit strip (not shown) and upon anissuing receipt (not shown). The Clerks keys 114 are also provided witha differential mechanism for positioning corresponding type wheels forprinting identifying letters on the receipt and detail strip. The detailand receipt printing mechanisms are not shown herein, but are fullydisclosed in the previously mentioned application Serial No. 341,633,now Patent No. 2,880,930.

The machine is normally operated by the usual type of electric motor,not shown but fully disclosed in the application Serial No. 341,633, nowPatent No. 2,880,930, referred to before. However, in emergencies, themachine may be operated manually by means of a hand crank, not shown,which is inserted through an opening provided therefor in the cabinet. Arockable shutter (not shown) normally closes the opening for thehandcrank.

The present machine is provided with two lines of interspersedtotalizers, and in the present adaptation the number one line,whichiscontrolled by the keys 104 to 108 inclusive (Fig. 9), has foursets of interspersed totalizers thereon, and the number two totalizerline, which is controlled by the keys- 109 to 113,inclusive, has fivesets of interspersed totalizers thereon, said totalizer lines beingshiftable laterally under control of their corresponding control keystoaline the selected totalizer thereon with the amount differentialmechanism for ac tuation thereby. Likewise the control keys, inconjunction with the total control lever 116, control the engaging anddisengaging movement of the selected totalizer and the differentialmechanism for entering amounts in said selected totalizers and for thetaking of totals therefrom. Each totalizer line is provided with a tenstransfer mechanism for transferring ten digits from lower to higherdenominations.

In addition to their other functions, the number one control keys 104 to108 inclusive and the number two control keys 109 to 113 inclusive arewhat are termed in this art as motorized keys, in that any-one of thesekeys, when depressed, initiates operation of the machine. Therefore itis impossible that the keys of rows one and two be used in conjunctionwith each other, and proper interlocking mechanism is provided betweenthe two rows of control keys to insure that, when a key in one row isdepressed, no key in the other row may be either simultaneouslydepressed or depressed afterward, until the machine operation has beencompleted.

In the ensuing pages, mechanism pertinent to the present invention willbe described in detail. For afull disclosure of other mechanism of themachine, reference may be had to the patentsanrl' to the applicationslisted at the beginning of this specification.

I DETAILED DESCRIPTION 7 Amount keys and difierential mechanismstherefor As explained previously in connection with Fig. 9, the presentmachine is provided with five rows of amount keys 103, and each row ofamount keys is provided with a corresponding differential mechanism fortransferring the value of the depressed key to the indicating andprinting mechanism and for setting the wheels of the selected totalizerin accordance with the value of said depressed amount key. Inasmuch asthese amount banks are similar in construction, it is believed, that adescription of the amount bank illustrated in Fig. 1, which isrepresentative of all the amount banks, will be sufficient.

The amount keys 103 (Figs. 1 and 9) are slidably supported incorresponding slots in a key frame 'removably attached to the machine bymeans of rounded notches therein which engage cross rods 126 and 12 7supported by the main frames, said rod 126 having a flat surface thereonwhich permits the key frame 125 to be removed from the machinewhen saidrodis turned counterclockwise substantially ninety degrees from theposition shown in Fig. 1. This turning of the rod 126 moves the tintportion thereof into positiontoprovide clearance of the inner edge ofthe. notch insaidframe, thus permitting said frame 125 to be rockedforwardly or counter-clockwise out of engagement with said rod, and thento be lifted off of the lower rod 127. Each key'1'03; is urged upwardlyto undepressed position by a corresponding compressible spring 128,which encircles: the lower end of the stem of said key. Each of theamount keys 103 carries a stud 129, which coacts with a correspondinghook on a locking detent 130, mounted for swinging movement on innerends of parallel links 131 and 132, in turn pivoted on studs 133 and134, secured. in the frame 125'. A spring 135 urges the locking detentinward- 1y or to the right (Fig. 1) to normally maintain the angularcamming noses on the hooks of saiddetent in yieldingengagement withtheir corresponding studs 129 in the keys 103.

Depression of any one of the amount keys 103 causes the stud 129therein, in cooperation with the angular nose on the corresponding hook,to shift the locking detent 130 downwardly or counter-clockwise (Fig.1), which movement rocks the link 132 clockwise to move a lowersurfaceon a downward extension 136 thereof into the path of an car, 137on an arm 138 secured on a key lock and release shaft 139 to blockreleasing movement of said arm and said shaft 139 in, a, clockwisedirection when an amount key 103 is partially depressed. Full depressionof an amount key moves a flat upper surface on the stud 129 beyond theshoulder of its corresponding hook to free the detent 130 to the actionof the spring 135, which immediately returns said detent upwardly orclockwise to latch the shoulder over the flat surface to retain the keyin depressed position against the action of the spring 128 and restorethe link 132 counter-clockwise to move the extension 136 out of the pathof the ear 137. Clockwise movement of the shaft 139 and the arm 138,upon subsequent release of the machine for operation, causes the ear 137to move into the path of an arcuate surface on the extension 136 (-Fig.l) to obstruct downward or counter-clockwise movement of the lockingdetent 130, and thus lock the depressed amount key 103 in depressedposition and simultaneously lock the undepressed amount keys againstdepression during machine operation. Counter-clockwise restoringmovement of the shaft 139 and the arm 138, near the end of machineoperation, causes the outer surface of said arm 138 to engage a stud 140in the link 132 and rock said link clockwise to shift the detent- 130downwardly, against the action of the spring 135, to disengage theshoulder on the hook of said detent from the flat surface of the stud129 of the depressed amount key 103 to free said key to .the action ofits spring 128, which immediately restores said key upwardly toundepressed position. If desiredfthe depressed amountjkey 103 may bereleased, prior to machine operation, by the manual operation ofthereleasce key 115 (Fig. 9). The construction and operation of saidrelease key- 115 is not described herein but is fully disclosed in thepreviously mentioned application Serial No. 341,633, to which referencemay be had for a full description thereof.

The lower ends of thestemsof the amountkeys 103 (Fig. 1) are arranged tocooperate with a projection 145 of a corresponding primary differentialmember146, free ona shaft 147 journaled in the main frames of themachine. Associated with the primary differential member 146 is asecondary differential member 148, also free on the shaft 147. Theprimary and secondary differential members are actuated by a universalrod or bail 149 supported between two similar arms 150 secured on theshaft 147, said rod passing through and coacting with a slot 151 in theprimary member 146, and with a corresponding slot 152 in the secondarymember 148. The rod 149 oscillates first clockwise and then back tonormal position (Fig. 1) to actuate the differential mechanism duringeach cycle of machine operation. I i

The secondary differential member 148 (Fig. 1) has, in its periphery,teeth which mesh with teeth in a gear 153 free on a shaft 154 supportedby the main frames 100 and 101. The gear 153 meshes with teeth in theperiphery of a segmental gear 155, having internal teeth which bear onthe periphery of a disc 156 supported by a shaft 157 in turn supportedby the main frames 100 and 101. The internal teeth of the segment 155(Fig. l) mesh with and drive a pinion 158,"said pinionin turn driving acorresponding square shaft 159 supported by discs similar to the disc156. .Other pinionson the shaft 159 mesh with and drive segments similarto the segment 155 (Fig. 1), said segments in turn driving correspondingtype wheels for printing records on the issuingreceipt material and uponthe audit or detail strip. 'The transmission gearing, comprising theinternal-external segments 155, the pinions 158, the shaft 159, andcorresponding segments driven by said shaft, constitutes the Kreidertype of transmission mechanism, which is well known in the art.

Teeth 160 in the upper periphery of segment 155 mesh with acorresponding pinion 161 integral with the corresponding frontindicator118 free on a shaft 162 supported by auxiliary frame members not shown).The front indicator 118 is visiblethrough an aperture in the front ofthe cabinet. (not shown), while a companion back indicator (not shown),which is visible through an 6 aperture in the back of said cabinet, ispositioned in unison with the front indicator by means of the pinions158 on the shaft 159 and corresponding segments, similar to the segment155, in the well known and usual manner.

After the primary differential member 146 (Fig. 1) has been positionedunder influence of the depressed amount key 103, and after the secondarymember 148 has been restored to zero position, as will be explainedpresently, the two members are clutched together by a clutch pinion freeon a rod 171 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8) supported by three parallel arms 172mounted on a shaft 173, supported by the machine framework which clutchpinion remains engaged at the end of machine operation. As shown in Fig.8, two of the arms 172 are fixedly secured to a sleeve 169 free on theshaft 173, while the third arm 172 is free on a reduced portion of asleeve 168, which in turn is free on the shaft 173. The central arm 172(Fig. 3) has pivotally connected thereto the upper ends of two arms 174and 175. The upper surface of a notch 176 in the arm 174 and the lowersurface of a notch 177 in the arm are positioned to cooperate withcorresponding surfaces on a stud 178 mounted in a cam-following lever179 (Fig. 2) free on a shaft 180 and carrying rollers 181 and 182, whichcooper-ate with the peripheries of companion plate cams 183 and 184,secured on a main cam shaft 185. Asecond stud 186 is fixed in thecam-following lever 179 and cooperates with a notch 187 in the arm 174to guide the movement of said arm. The arm 175 is normally retained inthe'po'sition inwhich it is shown in Fig. 3, with the lower surface ofnotch 177 in coacting relation with the lower surface of stud 178, by aspring 188 secured to said arm and to the machine framework.

Depression of one of the amount keys 103 (Fig. 1) moves the lower end ofits stem into the path of the projection 145 of the primary differentialnumber 146, after which the machine may be released for operation by depression of one of the control keys 104 to 113 inclusive (Fig. 9). cams183 and 184 cause the lever 179 and the arm 175 to rock the arms 172,the sleeve 169, and the rod 171 clockwise to disengage the teeth of theclutch pinions 170 from the corresponding teeth of the primary andsecondary differential members 146 and 148. I Coincidentally with thedisengagement of the pinions 170 from the differential members, theteeth of each of said pinions are engaged with an aligning tooth 189('Fig. l) on an arm 190 secured on. a shaft 191 supported by the machineframework, to maintain the teeth of said pinions in alignment with thecorresponding teeth of the differential members to eliminate any dangerof the teeth clashing or stumbling on each other upon engaging movementof said pinions with said differential members. Immediately after theclutch pinions'170 have been disengaged, the rod 149 (Fig. 1) starts itsinitial movement in a clockwise'directiom A comparatively strong spring192 (Fig. 1) tensioned between'the primary differential member 146 and astationary rod supported in the machine framework, urges said primarymember clockwise to maintain the'rear end of'the slot 151 therein inyielding engagement with the rod 149, and consequently said primarymember is led clockwise by the rod 149 until the projection 145 strikesthe end'of the depressed amount key 103 to position the primary memberin accordance with the value of said key. The rod 149 continues itsclockwise movement, during the course of which it engages the forwardend of the slot 152 in the secondary differential member 148 and carriessaid member and the mechanism connected thereto, including thecorresponding indicator 118 and type wheels, from their preset positionto a normal or home position.

After the primary differential member has been positioned by thedepressed amount key 103, and after the At the beginning of machineoperation, the I 7 secondary differential member and the mechanismconnected thereto have been restored to normal or home position, asexplained above, the clutch pinion 170 (Fig. 1) is re-engaged with theteeth in said primary and said secondary members to couple said memberstogether for unitary movement. Counter-clockwise return move ment of therod 149 ('Fig. 1) causes said rod to engage the rear end of the slot 151in the primary differential member 146 and carry said member and, thrughthe clutch pinion 170, the secondary differential member 148counter-clockwise in unison therewith to return said primary member tonormal or zero position, as shown in Fig. 1, and to position thesecondary member 148 and the mechanism connected thereto in accordancewith the value of the depressed amount key 103.

, When the machine is operated with no amount key 103 depressed in theamount bank being described, a zero stop bar 193 (Fig. 1) isautomatically moved into the path of the projection 145 at the beginningof machine operation and retains the primary differential member 146 inzero position, and said primary member in turn positions the secondarydifferential member 148 and the corresponding indicator and type wheelsin zero position. Depression of an amount key 103 causes the zero stopbar 193 to be latched in ineffective position, so that it will not bemoved into the path of the projection 145.

The inner end of the zero stop bar 193 (Figs. 1 and is guided in a slotin the frame 125, while its outer end is slotted to embarce the stud 134in the frame 125. A spring 194 urges the bar 193 inwardly to normallymaintain a stud 195 (Fig 10), carried thereby, in yielding contact withan upward extension of ajzero stop bar control arm 196, free on theshaft 191, and having a slot 197, which engages a stud 198 (Figs. 1 and10) in the arm 138. Clockwise releasing movement of the arm 138 causesthe stud 198 to move down into a clearance portion of the slot 197 tofree the arm 196 and the zero stop bar 193 to the action of the spring194, which immediately shifts said bar inwardly to the dot-and-dash lineposition, shown in Fig. 1, into the pathof the projection 145, to retainthe primary differential member 146 in zero position when no amount key103 is depressed.

Depression of an amount key 103 (Fig. 1) causes the stud 1-29 therein,in cooperation with a corresponding camming lug on a control plate 199,rockably supported byv anuPPer link (not shown) and a lower linkjr0, pivoted. on the-studs133 and 134, respectively, to shift; said plate 199downward or counter-clockwise against the, action of a spring 201.Downward movement of the plate 199 shifts the link 200 also downward orclockwise to latch a curved slot 202 in a hook-shaped rearward extensionthereof, over a stud 203 (Figs. 1 and 10) in the zero stop bar: 193.toretain said bar in itsineffective position. Counter-clockwiserestoring movement'of'the arm 138, through the, stud 198,coactingwiththe ,slot 197, causes the ar m 196 to restore the zerostopbar 193 outwardly against the action of the spring194 to normalposition, as shownhere, in full lines.

In totalizing, operations, often referred to herein as reading, andresetting operations, and inrepeat-- operations, mechanism is providedforretaining all the zero stop bars, 193, in their outward, orineffective, position, so that the primary differential members 146 arefree to. be positioned under influence of the corresponding Wheels ofthe selected totalizer as said wheels are reversely. rotated to zeroposition by said primary differential members.

Totalizers As has been previouslymentioned, the present machineisprovided with two lines. of interspersed totalizers, including foursets of-totalizer-wheels 215 (Fig. 1), mountedon: a numberoneline 216,and five sets of totalizer wheels 217 mounted; on anurnber-two line.218. Teeth on the wheels 2'15 and 217, cooperate with similar teeth inthe periphery of the corresponding primary differential members 146. Theconstruction and operation. of the mechanism for shifting, engaging, anddisengaging these totalizers is not described in the presentapplication, but is fully disclosed in the previously mentionedapplicationv Serial No. 412,464, to which reference may be had for adetailed description thereof.

Aliners for differential and indicator mechanisms Aliner mechanisms areprovided for the primary differential members 146, for the correspondingsegments 15 5, and for the corresponding indicators 118, to aline saidparts in set positions after they have been positioned under influenceof the corresponding keys in adding operations, or under influence ofthe corresponding totalizer wheels in totalizing operations.

The differential leading rod or bail 149 (Fig. 1) extends throughclose-fitting holes in the spacing plates (not shown) positioned betweeneach set of primary and secondary differential members 146 and 148, andfree on the shaft 147, and as a result carries said plates back andforth in unison therewith. Also supported by corresponding alined holesin said spacing plates and by the left arm 150 is a rod 221, which movesin unison with said rod 149 and said spacing plates. When the rod 221nears the terminus of its movement in an initial or clockwise direction,it engages an arcuate surface 222 on a retaining pawl 223 for eachamount primary differential member 146, free on the shaft 154, and rockssaid pawl clockwise against the action of springs 224,,to engage a tooth225 on each of said pawls with a corresponding tooth space in theprimary differential members 146. The above-described engagement of theteeth of the pawls 223 with the primary differential members 146 istohold said members against the action oftheir springs 192 in totalizingoperations, in which said segments are positioned under influence of thecorresponding wheels of the selected totalizer (Fig. 1),,to overcome thepossibility of said primary. differential members moving slightly out ofposition when the corresponding totalizer wheels are disengagedtherefrom, just prior, to operation of the aliner mechanism for thesegments 155. Counterclockwise return movement of the rod 221 withdrawsit from the surfaces 222 to'free the pawls 223, tofthe action of thespring 224, which restores said pawls counter clockwise until a stopfinger 226 on each of said pawls is moved into yielding contact with ashaft, 227 sup portedby the machineframework, to disengage the teeth 225from the, teeth of the primary differential members 146.

The transmission segment for theamount differential mechanism shown; inFig.- 1,. and used here as representative of all the amountdifferentials, has aliner teeth 228 arranged to be engaged by analinerbar 229, supported on three similar arms 230, secured on a shaft 231journaled inthe machine framework. Also secured on the shaft231 is. acrank 232, pivotally connected by a link 233 to one army of a bell crank234, free on a rod 235, supported by the machine framework. The otherarm of the bell crank234 is pivotally connected by a, linkr236 to adownward arm of a lever 237, free on the shaft 180, carrying rollers 238and 239', which coact, respectively, with the peripheries of companionplate cams 240 and 241 secured on the main. camshaft 1235.

Operation of the cams 24.0 and 241 engages the aliner bar 229 with theteeth 228 of the segment 155 after said segment has beenpositioned'under influence of the differential mechanism and prior tooperation of'the printing mechanism, to insurethat said parts are-heldin set positions. Afterthe printing mechanism has operated, and afterthe selected set of totalizer Wheels has been disengaged from theprimary differential members 146,-the aliner bar; 229-isdisengagedfromthe teeth 228; saidbar being assisted in suchdisengagement by a spring 242, tensioned between the link 233 and a studin the back plate 119, which spring yieldingly maintains said bar indisengaged position at the end of machine operation.

The pinion 161 for the indicator 118 for the amount differentialmechanism shown in Fig. 1, and described here as representative of allof the amount differentials, is normally engaged by the tooth of anindicator alining pawl 243,,secured on a shaft 244, said shaft beingurged counter-clockwise by a spring 245, tensioned between a stationarystud (not shown) mounted in the machine framework and an arm 246,secured on said shaft 244. Also secured on the shaft 244 is a crank 247,pivotally connected by a link 248 to a rearward arm of a bell crank 249(Fig. 1) free on the rod 235. Movement of the bell crank 249 isoperatively controlled by a plate cam (not shown) secured on the maincam shaft 185. As is fully disclosed in the previously mentionedapplication Serial No. 341,633, said plate cam first causes the alinerpawl 243 to be rocked clockwise against the action of the spring 245,out of engagement with the pinion 161, at the beginning of machineoperation, so that the indicator 118 will be free to be positioned underinfluence of the differential mechanism in the manner explainedpreviously. After the indicator 118 has been properly positioned, saidcam permits the spring 245 (Fig. 1) to reengage the tooth of the pawl243 with the pinions 161, to aline and retain the indicator 118 in setposition during the remainder of the cycle of machine operation Repeatmechanism .The repeat mechanism provided in this machine ischaracterized by the fact that the operator need not know at the time ofmaking the original entry that the amount is to be repeated. A previousitem amount may be repeated at any time after the operation iscompleted, so long as no other keys have been depressed in any of theamount banks. No preliminary setting of any kind is necessary toaccomplish this in the present invention. This type of repeat mechanismis particularly useful in a self-service store checkout system, since inchecking out a customers purchases, the machine operator maysuccessively check out a number of items of the same price, such ascartons of milk, for example, merely by depressing the appropriatetransaction key a number of times corresponding to the number of suchitems. This will greatly facilitate speedy and accurate machineoperation, and thus benefit both the store and the customer. Of course,it is apparent that the repeat mechanism is useful in a great many otherlines of business, and it is not desired to limit it to this particularsystem.

' As statedpreviously, the coupling pinions 170 (Figs. 1 and 3) aremoved in and out of mesh with the primary and secondary differentialmembers 146 and 148 by the companion cams 183 and 184 (Fig. 2). Means isprovided for disconnecting the members supporting the pinions 170fromthe cam-following lever 179, in order that the coupling pinions 170 willremain engaged with the differential members 146 and 148 at thebeginning of the cycle of machine operation. In such event, the primarydifferential members 146 will move with and be positioned by thesecondary differential members 148 as the latter are moved at thebeginning of the cycle of machine operation by the rod 149, in themanner previously described. A stud 261 (Fig. 2) mounted in one end ofan arm 262, free on the shaft 173, is positioned to engage a notch 260in the arm 175. Fixedly connected to the arm 262, and mountedon theshaft 173, is an arm 263, having at the end thereof a notch 264 forreceiving a stud 265 mounted in a lever 266 free on the shaft .157. Asecond stud 267 on the lever 266 is positioned to coact with a surface268 of a cutout portion in a detent 269, rockably mounted between thenumber one and number two rows of transaction keys by a lever 316pivoted between said detent and a stud 317 and by a slot in said detentwhich engages a stud (not shown), said studs being secured in themachine framework. As may-be seen in Fig. 2, the detent 269 is providedwith a plurality of upstanding fingers 270, each having cam surfaces 271and 272 thereon, for coacting with studs 273 mounted in the stems of theMeat, Produce, Grocery, Tax Item and Special transaction keys 109, 110,106, 111 and 112, respectively.

When any one of the above-mentioned transaction keys is depressedwithout an amount key 103 also having been depressed, the stud 273 inthe stem of such key will coact with the same surface 271 of thecorresponding finger 270 on the detent'269 to shift said detentcounterclockwise, or downward, as viewed in Fig. 2. ,The surface 268 onsaid detent will engage the stud 267 on the lever 266 and shift saidlever counter-clockwise about shaft 147, which in turn will impart aclockwise move ment about the shaft 173 to the arms 263 and 262, thuspivoting the arm 175 sufficiently in a clockwise direction to move thelower surface of the notch 177 thereon (Figs. 2 and 3) out of operativerelation with the stud 178 on the lever 179, and thus rendering thecompanion cams 183 and 184 ineffective to disengage the coupling pinionfrom the differential members 146 and 148. When the arm is shifted in aclockwise direction, as above described, a stud 274 thereon is movedinto engagement with the curved upper edge of a retaining member 275(Fig. 2) secured to the machine framework. Engagement of the stud 274with the member 275 retains the arms 172 against movement, thuspreventing accidental disengagement of the pinions 170 from thedifferential members 146 and 148, due to the force of gravity or r othermeans, such as vibration of the machine.

It will be recalled that the secondary differential member 148 (Fig. 1)is left standing, at the end of the cycle of operation of the machine,in the position to which it was adjusted under control of the depressedamount key 103, and that the primary differential member 146 is alwaysrestored to its home position. During repeat operations, the secondarydifferential member 148 and a stop surface 276 thereon, which is adaptedto coact with the periphery of the gear 153, are used for controllingthe positioning of the primary differential member 146. During repeatoperations, none of the keys 103 is depressed, and therefore the primarydifferential member 146 will move up until stopped by some other meansthan the keys. This means consists of the stop surface 276 (Fig 1) onthe secondary differential member 148, which moves into abuttingrelationship with rthe'gear 153 and thus stops the secondarydifferential member 148 in its zero position. In a' repeat operation,the arm 175 is disconnected from the cam-following lever 179, andtherefore, when the machine starts to' operate, the coupling pinions 170will not be disengaged from the differential members 146 and 148, andthe stud 274, cooperating with the retaining member 275, will hold thepinion in positive engagement with said differential members. Thus whenthe rod 149 (Fig. 1) receives its forward movement to restore thesecondary differential members 148 to their zero positions, the primarydifferential members 146 will be moved a like distance, thereby settingup in said members the amount previously standing on the members 148.During the'return movement ofthe rod 149, the coupling pinions 170 willstill remain engaged with the primary and secondary differentialmembers; therefore the members 146 will be-returned to their homepositions, and the members 148 will be returned to the positions inwhich they were standing at the beginning of the repeat operation. a 1

During the repeat operation, the selected totalizer is engaged with anddisengaged from the primary differential members 146 at the same time asduring an ordinary adding operation, and therefore the amount previouslystanding on the secondary differential members 148 will be again addedinto the totalizer pinions. Simultaneously, the indicators and the typecarriers will be adjusted in the same manner as before described for anordinary adding operation.

By referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the disconnection of thearm 175 from the stud 178 will only prevent disengagement of thecoupling pinions 170 for the five amount banks and for the two overflowbanks. The clutch pinions 170 (Fig. 8) for the Clerk bank and the numberone and number two transaction banks are mounted free on arms 331, 332,and 333, respectively, all of which arms are fixedly secured to theshaft 173. The arm 331 has pivotally connected thereto the upper end ofa link 334, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a cam lever335 free on the shaft 180 and carrying rollers 336 and 337, whichcooperate with the peripheries of companion plate cams 338 and 339,secured on the main cam shaft 185. At the beginning of each cycle ofmachine operation, the cams 338 and 339 cause disengagement of the Clerkbank and transaction banks pinions 170 from their corresponding primaryand secondary differential members, reengagement taking place afterproper positioning of said differential members. The two transactionbanks and the Clerk bank will be controlled by depressed keys duringrepeat operations in the same manner as during regular addingoperations.

As previously described, during a repeat operation the primarydifferential member 146 for each amount bank is moved under control ofthe secondary differential mem her 148. For this reason it is necessaryto retain the zero stop bars 193 out of their effective positions duringrepeat operations. As above described, when an amount key 103 isdepressed, its associated zero stop bar 193 is thereby retained in anineffective position. However, during repeat operations, none of theamount keys are depressed, and therefore another means is provided forretaining said zero stop bars in their ineffective positions.

It will be recalled that when no amount key 103 is depressed, depressionof any one of the transaction keys 109, 110, 106, 111 and 112 (Figs. 2and 9), which are capable of initiating a repeat operation, will shiftthe detent 269 (Fig. 2) downward, thus rocking the lever 266 in acounter-clockwise direction about the shaft 147. An end portion 285(Figs. 2 and 5) of the lever 266 is arranged to coact with a surface 286on an arm 284 pivotally mounted by a stud 287 on a detent 288 free onthe shaft 147, said arm having an extension 289 positioned to coact witha stud 290 secured in an arm 291 free on the shaft 139. The arm 291 isconnected to a companion arm (not shown), also pivoted on the shaft 139,by rods 292. Counter-clockwise rocking of the lever 266, the arm 284,the arm 291, and its companion arm, moves the rearward rod 292 into thepath of a shoulder 293 (Fig. 10) on the the anns 196 for each amountbank. This obstructs clockwise movement of the arms 196, and therebyretains the zero stop bars 193 in ineffective position, so that theprimary differential members 146 are free to be positioned under controlof the secondary dilferential members 148, as said members 148 are beingreversely rotated to zero in repeat operations. Similarly, the zero stopbars are locked in ineffective position during totalizing operations bymechanism which is fully disclosed in the previously mentionedapplication Serial No. 341,633.

Also free on the shaft 139, and secured to the rods 292, are a series ofarms 294 (Fig. 10) one for each amount bank, the upper ends of whicharms are arranged to cooperate with downward extensions 295 on thecorresponding control plates 199, there being a control plate 199 foreach amount bank, as explained previously in connection with the amountbank shown in Fig. 1. The spring 296 (Fig. 5) urges the arms 291 and 294in a clockwise direction about the shaft 139.

Depression of the appropriate transaction keys rocks the arms 291 and294 counter-clockwise about the shaft 139 in the manner previouslyexplained and thereby moves the upper ends of said arms 294 into thepaths of the corresponding extensions 295, to lock the amount keys 103against depression, when no amount-key 103 has previously beendepressed. Likewise, depression of an amount key 103- shifts thecorresponding controlplate 199 (Figs. 1 and 10) down to move theextension 295 into the path of the upper end of the'corresponding arm294, to obstruct counter-clockwise movement of said armand the arm 291.

It will thus be seen that when the appropriate transaction key has beendepressed to initiate a repeat operation, the control plates 199 in theamount" banks are locked against movement, and therefore no key can bedepressed in these banks after said transaction key has been depressed.It will also be seen that when an amount key 103 has been depressed, theconsequent movement of extension 295 on detent 199 will preventcounter-clockwise rotation about shaft 139 of arms 291 and 294 and willconsequently prevent counter-clockwise rotation of the arm 284 about itsstud 287 and, through the stud 344, will also prevent counter-clockwiserotation of the detent 288 about the shaft 147. It will be seen fromFig. 5 that blocking of counter-clockwise rotation of the detent 288,

as previously described, will prevent depression of the Cash Total, TaxTotal, and Sub-Total transaction keys whenever an amount key 103 hasbeen depressed.

Repeat mechanism disabling means Means are provided for disabling therepeat mechanism by depression of any amount key 103, so that anymachineoperation in which an amount key is depressed is thus prevented frombeing a repeat operation.

It will be recalled that depression of an amount key 103 (Fig. 1 causesthe stud 129 on the stem thereof to coact with the detent 130 to shiftsaid detent in a counterclockwise or downward direction, as viewed inFig. 1, which in turn causes the link 131 to be rocked in a clockwisedirection about the stud 133. An extension 300 (Figs. 1 and 4) of thelink 131 is arranged to coact with a rod 301 secured between two links302 (Figs. 1 and 11) and 303 (Figs. 4 and 11), each of which ispivotally mounted by a stud 304 on a plate 305, one of said plates inturn being mounted on the shaft 157 in a fixed position adjacent thesegment for the number one row of amount keys and the other of saidplates 305 being mounted on the shaft 157 in a fixed position adjacentthe segment 155 for the number five row of amount keys, both platesbeing secured in fixed relationship to the machine framework. Clockwiseshifting of the link 131 acts, through the extension 300, to rock thelinks 302 and 303 and the rod 301 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Figs. 1 and 4, against the force of a spring 306 (Figs. 4 and11), which is connected to said rod and to a member 307 secured to asleeve 308, free on a shaft 309, mounted in the machine framework.

The link 303 (Fig. 4) is provided with an extension 310 having a surface311 positionable in the path of movement of an car 312 on an arm 313(Figs. 4 and 11), secured on the sleeve 308. A second arm 314 (Figs. 2and 11), also secured to the sleeve 308, is connected to the transactiondetent 269 by means of a link 315, to which it is detachably secured bya clip 318, and a lever 316, pivoted on a stud 317, secured in themachine framework. The arms 313 and 314, as well as the sleeve 308, areurged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, by the spring 306.

When an amount key 103 is depressed, the links 302 and 303 and the rod301 are rocked together in a counterclockwise direction, as previouslydescribed, and the sur-' face 311 of the link 303 is thereby moved outof the path of movement of the car 312 of the arm 313, thus freeing thearms 313 and 314 and the sleeve 30.8 for clockwise rotation under theinfluence of the spring 306. This movement is transmitted through thelink-315 (Fig. 2) and the lever 316 to shift the transaction detent 269in 13 a clockwise or upward direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, thuspositioning the cam surfaces 272 of the detent 269 in the path ofmovement of the studs 273 of the transaction keys 109, 110, 106, 111 and112.

' With the detent 269 in such a position, depression of one of saidtransaction keys will shift said detent in a clockwise rather than in acounter-clockwise direction, and will thus be ineffective to shift thelever 266 to move the lower surface of the notch 177 on the arm 175 outof the path of movement of the stud 178. The companion cams 183 and 184will, therefore, remain effective to disengage the clutch pinions 170from the corresponding sets of primary and secondary differentialmembers 146 and 148, respectively, at the beginning of each cycle ofmachine operation, and a repeat operation will not take place.

Means are provided for disabling the repeat mechanism by depression ofany of the total-taking transaction keys 105, 107 and 108, and bydepression of the Paid-Out key 104.

As shown in Fig. 5, the detent 288 is provided with fingers 345, havingcam surfaces 346 thereon and adapted to coact with the studs 273,mounted in the stems of the transaction keys 105, 107 and 108. Thedetent 288 is also provided at its upper end with a notch 347 positionedto coact with a stud 348 secured to one arm of a lever 349, which ispivotally mounted on a stud 350, secured or downward, as viewed in Fig.5, which in turn rocks the lever 349 in a clockwise direction byengagement of the edge of the notch 347 with the stud 348. Clockwiserotation of the lever 349 causes a surface 353 thereon to engage the rod301, and to rock said rod and the links 302 and 303 in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, to disable. therepeat mechanism in the manner previously described.

, A stud 344 (Fig. 5) is secured on the detent 288 and coacts with acorresponding surface on the arm 284 to shift said arm counter-clockwisewith the detent 288' when one of the keys 105, 107 or 108 is depressed.This causes the'extension 289. to coact with the stud 290 to retain theZero stop bars 193 in ineffective position, as has been previouslydescribed.

' As shown in Fig. 6, a separate detent 354, having a finger 355 with acam surface 356 thereon, and also having a notch 357, is provided forthe Paid-Out key 104.

The separate detent 354 is required for the Paid-Out key 104, since thiskey, unlike the Sub-Total, Tax Total, and Cash Total keys, is used in amachine operation in which one or more amount keys 103 are alsodepressed. Depression of the Paid-Out key 104 causes the stud 273,mounted in the stem thereof, to coact with the cam surface 356 to shiftthe detent 354 counter-clockwise or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6,which in turn rocks the lever 349 in a clockwise direction by engagementof the edge of the notch 357 with the stud 348, to disable the repeatmechanism in the manner previously described.

Means are provided for disabling the repeat mechanism by shifting of thetotal control lever 116 out of Register position.

' As is shown in Fig. 7, the total control lever 116 is mounted free onthe shaft 147 and is provided with a notch 358 therein for reception ofa stud 359 secured to an arm 360 pinned to a shaft 361 journaled in'themachine framework; Also pinned to the shaft 361, to

rock therewith, are a second arm 362 (Fig. 2) and a third arm 363 (Fig.7), provided at its end with a control surface 364 having a low portion365 therein. A sensing lever 366 having a stud 367 mounted therein forcoaction with said control surface is pivotally mounted by a stud 368 ona plate 369 similar to the plates 305, and mounted on the shaft 157 in afixed position adjacent to the segments 370 and 371 (Fig. 11) for thenumber one and number two rows of transaction keys respectively. Thelever 366 is provided with a slot 372 within which the rod 301 is freeto rock so as to preclude interference between said rod and said sensinglever, and at one end said lever is formed with a finger 382 positionedto coact with a stud 383 secured in the disabling lever 349.

Due to the normal engagement of the finger 382 with the stud 383 on thelever 349, the stud 367 on the sensing lever 366 is normally urged bythe spring 351 into engagement with the control surface 364. When thecontrol lever 1.16 is in :Register position, the arm 363 is sopositioned that the low portion 365 of the control surface 364 is incoacting relation to the stud 367, and the sensing lever 366 is in theposition shown in Fig. 7, in which it does not affect the position ofthe disabling lever 349. However, when the total control lever 116 isshifted in either direction out of Register position, a high portion ofthe control surface 364' is moved into coacting relation to the stud367. This causes the sensing lever 366 to be rocked in acounter-clockwise direction, which in turn rocks the lever 349 in aclockwise direction by engagement of the finger 382 with the stud 383 todisable the repeat mechanism in the manner previously described.

Intermediate its ends, the arm 362 (Fig. 2) is provided with aprojection 373 having a stud 374 secured thereto. The stud 374 isengageable with a curved extension of a link 375, which is free on astud 376 secured to the machine framework, and which is pivotallyconnected to a detent'377, supported at its other end by a link 378, and

pivotally connected thereto, said link being free on a stud 379, securedin the machine framework. The dc tent 377 is normally urged in aclockwise direction, as 'viewed in Fig. 2, by a spring 380, securedthereto, and

connected at its other end to the machine framework. Adjacent the lowerend of said detent is a notch 381, positioned to be engageable with astud 382, secured to the zero stop bar 277' for the Number Onetransaction bank.

Moving the total control lever 116 (Figs. 7 and 9) to either Read Two orReset Two position rocks the shaft 361 and the arm 362 (Fig. 2)counter-clockwise, causing the stud 374, in cooperation with the curvedextension of the link 375 to shift the detent 377 downward orcounter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, to engage the notch 381 with thestud 382 on the zero stop bar 277. This positively retains the zero stopbar 277 of row one in ineffective position during a row two Reading orResetting operation, thus permitting the row one differential members(not shown) to position other mechanism (not shown) so as to renderinoperative a locking means (not shown) 'which would otherwise lock thetotal control lever 116 in Read Two or Reset Two position for succeedingmachine'operations. Also depressing any row 1 key shifts the detent 377down to retain the row 1 zero stop bar 277 in ineffective position.

Reset mechanism for the disabling means Mechanism is provided forresetting the repeat dis.- abling means at the. end of each cycle ofmachine opera tion.

It will be remembered that the sleeve 308 (Figs. 4 and 11), on which therepeat disabling arms 313 and 314 are secured, is mounted free on theshaft 309. Also mounted free on said shaft between the side frames and101 are a spacing sleeve 390 to the right of the sleeve 308 and a sleeve391 to the left of the sleeve 308, as viewed in Fig. 11. Secured to thesleeve 39] i an a m 3?? ha in a surf (Figs- 4 and 11) thereon, adaptedto coact with a stud 394 mounted in an arm 395, securedto the sleeve308.

Pivotally connected at one end to the arm 392 is a flexible link 396(Fig. 4) connected at its other end to a crank 397 pivotally mounted ona shaft 398 secured in the machine framework and normally urged in acounter-clockwise direction by a spring 399 connected to said crank andto the machine framework. The link 396 comprises two members 400 and 401connected together by means of a headed stud 402 mounted in the member400, and coacting with a slot in the member 401, and a headed stud 403mounted in the member 401 and coacting with a slot in the member 400.The stud 402 and 403 are connected to each other by a spring 404, whichtends to keep the link 396 at its maximum length.

The crank 397 is pivotally connected by a link 405 to an arm 406,pivotally mounted on a stud 407 fast in the machine framework. The arm406 has a surface 408, positioned to coact with the shaft 180 to limitdownward movement of said arm, and also has a cam surface 409 thereon,adapted to coact with a stud 410 mounted on a drive gear 411 for themain cam shaft 185, said gear being connected tosaid shaft by a hub 412on said gear, which is pinned to the shaft 185.

The gear 411 drives the main cam shaft 185 through a complete clockwiserevolution, as viewed in Fig. 4,

each cycle of machine operation, and near the end of each cycle the stud410 contacts the cam surface 409 on the arm 406 and rocks said armclockwise about its pivot 407. This motion is transmitted through thelink 405, the crank 397, and the link 396 to the arm 392, and causessaid arm to rock counter-clockwise about the shaft 309.

It will be recalled that during a non-repeat operation of the machine,the link 303 is rocked counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, about itspivot 304, and that the ear 312 on the arm 313 is thereby released fromits engagement with the surface 311, permitting the arm 313, the sleeve308 and the arm 395 to rock clockwise about the shaft 309, under theinfluence of the spring 306, and thereby positioning the stud 394 in thearm 395 adjacent the surface 393 on the arm 392. The counter-clockwiserocking movement imparted to the arm 392 by the stud 410, acting throughthe arm 406, the link 405, the crank 397, and the link 396, istransmitted to the arm 395 by coaction of the surface 393 with the stud394, since the spring 404 is stronger than the spring 306.Counterclockwise rocking of the arm 395, the sleeve 308, and the arm 313will restore these parts to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the spring306 will thereupon rock the link 303 clockwise to engage the surface 311with the car 312 to retain said arms 313, 314 and 395, and the sleeve308 in said position. i

During a repeat operation of the machine, the arms 313, 314, and 395will be retained by the engagement of the surface 311 with the ear 312in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 4, and thecounter-clockwise rocking of the arm 392 will be merely an idlemovement. The link 396 between the arm 392 and the crank 397 is made offlexible construction in order to prevent possible jamming ofthe'machine.

By inspection of Fig. 2 it will be seen that if, in a non-repeatoperation, the machine operator were, through carelessness orinadvertence, tohold down one of the transaction keys 106, 109, 110,111, or 112 through the end of the cycle of machine operation, thedetent 269 would be shifted to and held in a position to the right, orclockwise, of the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. This movementof said detent would act through lever 316 and the link 315 to shift thearms 313, 314, and 395, and the sleeve 308, in a clockwise direction totheir non-repeat position, and to hold them there. With the arm 395 andthe stud 394 held'in such a position, the arm 392 would be blocked fromrocking counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, as the stud 410 on thegear 411 rocked the arm 406 upward or clockwise. To prevent straining orbreaking of parts of the machine in such a contingency, the flexiblelink 396 is provided, so that the motion imparted to the crank 397 bythe link 405 can safely be taken up by the contracting of the members400 and 401 relative to each other, against the force of the spring 404,if necessary, and damage to the machine can thus be prevented.

Mechanism for preventing repeat of a total Mechanism is provided forlatching the repeat disabling means in effective position to prevent arepeat operation immediately following a total-taking or Paid Outoperation.

A latch 420 (Fig. 5) is pivotally mounted on the machine framework insuch position that a hook portion 421 on one end of said latch isengageable with one end portion of the repeat disabling lever 349. Theend of the hook portion 421 forms a surface 422, which is urged againstthe end surface of the lever 349 when the lever 349 is in itsineffective position, as shown in Fig. 5, by a spring 423 secured tosaid latch and to the machine framework. A surface 424 on the latch 420is arranged to cooperate with a stud 425 secured in the upper end of alever 426, pivotally mounted on a stud 427 secured in the detent 288;.The extent of movement of the lever 426 is limited by a slot 428 in saidlever, in cooperation with a stud 429 secured in the detent 288.' At itslower end, the lever 426 has mounted therein a stud 430, cooperatingwith a notch 431 in the end of an extension 432 (Figs. 2, 5, and 8) ofthe clutch pinion arm 333.

It will be recalled that, during a Sub-Total, Tax Tota Cash Total orPaid Out operation, the movement of the detent 288 or 354 rocks thelever 349 clockwise to disable the repeat mechanism. Such rockingmovement shifts the lower end of the lever 349 out of engagement withthe surface 422 on the latch 420,'thus freeing the latch 420 to rockcounter-clockwise about its pivot to position the hook portion 421 ofsaid latch so as to block counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 349out of repeat-disabling position.

Since the lever 349 is retained in the above position during theremainder of the cycle of machine operation, the link 303 (Fig. 4) isheld in its repeat-disabling position and cannot rock clockwise, asviewed in Fig. 4, when the arm 313 is rocked counter-clockwise about theshaft 309, from its disabled position to the position shown in Fig. 4,by coaction of the surface 393 of the arm 392 with the stud 394.Therefore, since the arm 313 is not retained in the position shown inFig. 4 by engagement of its car 312 with the surface 311 on the link303, the arms 313, 314 and 395, and the sleeve 308 are returned in aclockwise direction under the influence of the spring 306. The arm 314then shifts the detent 269 (Fig. 2) back to its non-repeat position, inwhich the cam surfaces 272 are in the path of movement of the studs 273of the transaction keys.

The lever 349 is held in its non-repeat position by the latch 420 untila time in the next following cycle of machine operation, after the cams183 and 184 (Fig. 2) have imparted a counter-clockwise movement to thearm 179 for disengaging the clutch pinions from their correspondingprimary and secondary differential members 146 and 148. The extension432 is then shifted in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, by thecams 338 and 339 (Fig. 8) acting through the lever 335, the link 334,the arm 331, the shaft 173, and the arm 333, causing the lever 426 (Fig.5) to rock counter-clockwise about.

Said leverfor counter-clockwise rotation under the in 17 fluenceof thespring 351, to the position shown in Fig. 5. The lever 426 issubsequently rocked back in a clockwise direction by the cams 338 and339, the stud 425 :moving idly in the cut-out portion of the latch 420ad- 288 or by the notch 357 in the detent 354, and the latch 420 willtherefore relock the lever 349 in effective repeatdisabling position assoon as the lever 426 makes its return movement in a clockwise directionto free the latch 420 to the action of the spring 423.

On the other hand, if said operation is not a total-taking or Paid Outoperation, the detents 288 and 354 will be in the position shown inFigs. and 6, and the lever 349 will be free to move under the influenceof the spring 351 into ineffective position, as shown in Fig. 5, withits lower end abutting the stud 352, upon its release by the latch 420.OPERATION A brief description of the operation and use of the machine ofthe present invention will now be given.

This machine is suitable for the same general business applications as amachine of the type described and illusits repeat feature, which, as hasbeen stated, makes it possible for the operator torepeat an entrywithout knowing at the time the original entry is made that the nextoperation is to be a repeat operation.

During a multiple item transaction, if the machine operator notes fromthe indicators that the amount of the last preceding item is the same asthe amount of the next item to be entered into the machine, all that theoperator need do is to depress the appropriate transaction key for thenext item, and the amount of the last preceding item will beautomatically repeated and entered into the machine for said next item.

It is not necessary that this item be in the same category or class asthe preceding item in order to effect a repeat operation. For example,let it be assumed that the preceding item was a package of meat pricedat $1.50, which amount the operator entered into the machine bydepressing amount keys in the amount of $1.50 and then depressing theMeat transaction key 109, which caused the meat item of $1.50 to beindicated and recorded, and caused the amount accumulated in the Meattotalizer and in the Item totalizer to be increased by $1.50. Then letit be assumed that the next item is a grocery item, also priced at$1.50. To enter the amount of this item into the machine, the operatormerely depresses the Grocery" transaction key 106. This causes a groceryitem of $1.50 to be indicated and recorded, and increases the amountaccumulated inthe Grocery totalizer and in the Item totalizer by $1.50.The operator can continue to repeat this item amount for subsequent itementries, so long as the amount of the item is the same as that of therare ceding item.

It will be recalled that depression of an amount key 103 disables therepeat mechanism from operation. Therefore during an item operation inwhich an amount key 103 is depressed, the repeat mechanism will notfunction, and the item amount which is recorded, indicated, and enteredinto the appropriate totalizers will be the amount corresponding to thecurrently depressed amount keys 103, rather than the amountcorresponding to the amount of the last preceding item operation.

Depression of any of the total keys 105, 107, and

and therefore the amount indicated and recorded in these operations isthe amount which has been accumulated in the appropriate totalizer,rather than the amount entered into the machine during its precedingoperation. Similarly, depression of the Paid Out key 104 disables therepeat mechanism from operation, so that a repeat operation cannot beinitiated by depression of the Paid Out key 104. As has been stated, aPaid Out operation differs from a total-taking operation in that anamount is entered into the machine by use of the appropriate amount keys.103, in conjunction with the use of the Paid Out key 104.

As will be recalled, moving the total control lever 116 out of Registerposition to any of its other positions also disables the repeatmechanism from operation.

Further, depression of any of the keys 104, 105, '107 and 108, ormovement of the total control lever 116 out of Register position causesthe repeat disabling means to be latched, so that the next succeedingoperation is pre vented from being a repeat operation. Therefore it willbe seen that the machine has been so constructed as to permit the use ofthe repeat mechanism only for repeating previously entered item amountsin multiple-item transactions. 1

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablysuited to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the form orembodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment invarious other forms, all coming within the scope and spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, having amount keys and adifferential actuator positionable under control of said keys, thecombination of a differentially 'positi'onable member; a normallyeffective coupling means to connect the actuator and the member; meansto disengage the coupling means from the actuator and member as theactuator is being positioned, and again to engage said coupling meanswith the actuator and member so that said member may be positioned undercontrol of said actuator as items are entered under control of theamount keys; means to control the coupling means so that it maintainsits normal effectiveness between said member and actuator to control thesetting of the actuator by said member to repeat the entry of the itementered under control of the amount keys; and means controlled by theamount keys for rendering the coupling control means ineffective tocause the coupling means to remain engaged with said member and saidactuator to control the setting of the actuator by the member to repeatthe entry of the item entered under control of the keys.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primarydifferential member; a secondary differential member; manually operablemeans for controlling the extent of movement of the primary differentialmember; means for coupling said primary and secondary differen tialmembers; means for selectively engaging and disengaging said couplingmeans from said primary and secondary differential members; transactionkeys for actuating the machine to perform various types of machineoperations; a detent arranged in cooperative relation with saidtransaction keys; means normally engageaole by said detentto control theengaging and disengaging of said coupling means; and means controllableby said manually operable means to shift said detent to render itineffective to'engage said means normally engageable by said detent.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primarydifferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys forcontrolling the extent of move ment of the primary differential member;means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members; meansto disengage the coupling means from the differential members; meansnormally connecting the coupling shiftable inone direction by certain ofsaid transaction keys, and when in a second position being shiftable inan opposite direction by said certain of said transaction keys; a leverconnecting the detent and the connecting means, said lever beingoperable by the detent to shift said connecting means to .,disconnectthe disengaging means from the coupling means upon depression of one ofsaid transaction keys when said detent is in said first position; andmanually operable disabling means for shift ing the detent from saidfirst position to said second position.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primarydifferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys forcontrolling the extent of movement of the primary differential member;means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members forconcert movement; means to disengage the coupling means from thedifferential members; coupling control means to render the disengagingmeans ineffective; a lever mounted in the machine; manually operablemeans for rocking the lever; a link shiftable by the lever and having anotched portion thereon; a shaft mounted in the machine; a first armsecured to the shaft and having an ear positioned to coact with thenotched portion of the link; resilient means secured to the shaft and tothe link and urging the ear into engagement with the notched portion; asecond arm secured to the shaft; and means connecting the second arm tothe coupling control means, whereby operation of the manually operablemeans will move the notched portion of the link out of engaging relationwith the ear of the first arm, thus releasing said first arm, the shaftand said second arm to the action of the resilient means, and shiftingthe coupling control means to a posi tion in which it is incapable ofrendering the disengaging means ineffective.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primarydifferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys forcontrolling the extent of movement of the primary differential member;means for coupling the primary and secondary differential members; meansto disengage the coupling means from the differential members; couplingcontrol means to render the disengaging means ineffective; a levermounted in the machine; manually operable means for rocking the lever; alink shiftable by thetlever and having a notched portion thereon; ashaft mounted in the machine; a first arm secured to the shaft andhaving an ear positioned to coact with the notched portion of the link;resilient means secured to the shaft and to the link and urging the carinto engagement with the notched portion of said link; a second armsecured to the shaft; means connecting the second arm to the couplingcontrol means, whereby operation of the manually operable means willmove the notched portion of the link out of engaging relation with theear of the first arm, thus releasing said first arm, the shaft and saidsecond arm to the action of the resilient means, and shifting thecoupling control means to a position in which is is incapable ofrendering the disengaging means ineffective; a third armlsecured to theshaft; a stud mounted in the third arm; a reset supporting means mountedin the machine; a resetting arm secured to the reset supporting meansand having a surface thereon positioned to be engageable with the'studin the third arm;

and means to drive the resetting arm in regularly excursioned movementfor engagement of said surface with said stud to shift the shaft withits attached arms against the force of said resilient means to aposition in which .the car on said first arm is engageable with thenotched portion of said link.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primarydifferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys forcontrolling the extent of Imovement of the primary differential member;coupling means for coupling the primary and secondary differentialmembers; means to disengage the coupling means from the differentialmembers;control.means to render the disengaging means ineffective;shiftable means to control the control means; disabling means to renderthe shiftable means ineffective to control the control means; and resetmeans for resetting the disabling means and the .shiftable means to. aposition in which said shiftable means is operable to control thecontrol means.

7. In a machine of the class described, having a totalizer and meansincluding amount keys and'a differential actuator, movable under controlof said keys for entering an item in said totalizer, the combination ofa differentially movable member adjustable under control of theactuator; coupling means to connect the actuator with the member; meansto control the coupling means to enable the differentially movablemember to control the actuator to effect a repeat entry of said item inthe totalizer; transaction keys for initiating various types oftransactions; means operable by certain of the transaction keys todisable the coupling control means; and means to latch the disablingmeans in effective position to prevent a repeat entry of the transactioninitiated by said certain of said transaction keys.

8. In a machine of the class described, having a totalizer and meansincluding amount keys and a differential actuator movable under controlof said keys for entering an item in said totalizer, the combination ofa differentially movable member adjustable under control of theactuator; coupling means to connect the actuator with the member; meansto control the coupling means toenable the differentially movable memberto control the actuator to effect a repeat entry of said item in thetotalizer; transaction keys for initiating various types oftransactions; means operable by certain of the transaction keys todisable the coupling control means; means to latch the disabling meansin effective position to prevent a repeat entry of the transactioninitiated by said certain of said transaction keys; and means operableduring each cycle of machine operation to' release the latching means'movable between two positions, said control means being capable ofrendering the disengaging means ineffective when said detent is in oneof said positions, and being incapable of rendering the disengagingmeans-ineffective when said detent is in the other of saidpositionsydis-'abling means including a lever for moving the detent into the other ofsaid positions; means for latching the lever in a position in which itretains the detent in said other position; and means operable duringeach cycle of machine'operation to release the latching means latched.during the preceding cycle of machine operation.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of. aprimarydifferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys forcontrolling the'extent of movement of the primary differential member;zero stop means normally operative to retain the primary differentialmember in zero position in the event no amount key is depressed; meansfor coupling the primary and secondary differential members; means todisengage the coupling means from the differential members; means,normally connecting the coupling means with the disengaging means; aplurality of transaction keys; a detent shiftable by the depression ofcertain of the transaction keys; a lever connecting the detent ,and' theconnecting means; said lever being operable by said detent to shift,

said connecting means to disconnect the disengaging means from thecoupling means; and an arm mounted in the machine and having a firstsurface thereon engageable with the lever and having a second surfacethereon engageable with the zero stop means, whereby movement of saidlever to shift the connecting means to disconnect the disengaging meansfrom the coupling means also retains said zero stop means in ineffectiveposition.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primaryditferential member; a secondary differential member; amount keys forcontrolling the extent of movement of the primary differential member;means for coupling the primary and secondary difierential members; meansto disengage the coupling means from the differential members; couplingcontrol means to render the disengaging means ineffective; disablingmeans operable to prevent the coupling control means from rendering thedisengaging means ineffective; a manually operable lever having an addposition and a plurality of total-taking positions and movable betweensaid positions to condition the machine for various types of operations;an axial member journaled in the machine framework; a first arm securedto the axial member and operatively connected to the manually operablelever; a. second arm secured to the axial member and having a controlsurface thereon; and a sensing lever mounted in the machine frameworkand having means at one end for sensing the control surface andconnected at its other end to the disabling means, whereby shifting ofthe manually operable lever to a total-taking position positions thecontrol surface on the second arm so that the sensing lever will controlthe disabling means to prevent the coupling control means from renderingthe disengaging means inefiective.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,120,746 Rinsche Dec. 15, 1914 1,929,652 Robertson Oct. 10, 19331,994,211 Crosman Mar. 12, 1935 2,399,170 Chase Apr. 30, 1946 2,570,456Karr Oct. 9, 1951

